09/05/2026
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ISTAF and ASTAF Desk News:
MALAYSIA RETAINS SEA GAMES GOLDEN CORE FOR ISTAF SEPAK TAKRAW WORLD CUP 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 May 2026 — The Malaysia Sepak Takraw Federation (PSM) has officially unveiled its 15-player national squad for the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place from 16 to 23 May at Stadium Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
As expected, Malaysia have retained all 12 players who delivered the nation’s historic gold medal victory in the team event at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
The only additions to the squad are Shahalril Aiman Halim, Fetri Azwadi and Jefri Ahmad, who have been specifically selected for the quadrant event.
Shahalril and Fetri previously represented Malaysia in the quadrant event during the SEA Games in Nakhon Pathom last December, while Jefri earned his first international cap at the Asian Games Test Championship in Nagoya, Japan in February this year.
The SEA Games gold medal-winning core comprises Syahir Rosdi, Haziq Hairul Nizam, Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican, Zulkifli Razak, Azlan Alias, Noraizat Nordin, Afifuddin Razali, Hafizul Hayazi Adnan, Farhan Adam, Amirul Zazwan Amir, Aidil Aiman Azwawi and Zuleffendi Sumari.
Not included in the final selection are experienced national tekong Zuhri Zain, who had been part of the national programme since the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games and the ISTAF World Cup 2024, together with several newcomers from the Podium Programme namely Fahmi Khalid, Nazrein Daniel Kamal Mustafa, Wazir Madi, Kamarul Ezzad Kamarul Imran and Zulfikri Wajawwa Zulhanifa.
The squad announcement was made during the Official Jersey Launch and Player Introduction Ceremony for the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2026 held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Also present at the ceremony were PSM President Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan and Telekom Malaysia (TM) Chief Corporate Officer Nor Fadhilah Mohd Ali, representing the federation’s principal strategic partner.
The newly launched Adidas team kits, sponsored by TM, feature three colour variations: yellow for home matches, dark blue for away fixtures and white as the alternate kit.
Malaysia, coached by Ahmad Jais Baharun, have been drawn in Group B for the team event alongside India and Myanmar, Group A for the regu event with Japan and Singapore, and Group C for the quadrant event together with India, Singapore and South Korea.
Malaysia emerged as champions of both the regu and doubles events at the ISTAF World Cup 2024 after defeating Thailand 15-8, 15-12 and 17-16, 15-13 respectively at the same venue.
However, Thailand denied Malaysia the team event title after winning the final through scores of (9-15, 15-11, 15-13), (8-15, 5-15) and (12-15, 12-15).
MALAYSIA SQUAD
ISTAF SEPAK TAKRAW WORLD CUP 2026
TEAM EVENT
Tekongs:
Syahir Rosdi, Haziq Hairul Nizam, Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican, Zulkifli Razak
Killers:
Azlan Alias, Noraizat Nordin, Afifuddin Razali, Hafizul Hayazi Adnan
Feeders:
Farhan Adam, Amirul Zazwan Amir, Aidil Aiman Azwawi, Zuleffendi Sumari
REGU EVENT
Tekongs:
Syahir Rosdi, Haziq Hairul Nizam
Killers:
Azlan Alias, Noraizat Nordin
Feeders:
Farhan Adam
QUADRANT EVENT
Killers:
Afifuddin Razali, Shahalril Aiman Halim, Fetri Azwadi
Feeders:
Amirul Zazwan Amir, Aidil Aiman Azwawi, Jefri Ahmad
